Future Of Sanders Cup Contest In Jeopardy

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28210, 23 February 1957, Page 5

Future Of Sanders Cup Contest In Jeopardy

rpHE one important happening which overshadowed all others, and which will make the 1957 Sanders Cup contest the most debated yachting event for years, did not take place in a yacht or on the water. This was the conference decision to bar all amateur construction from the X class and permit only fibre-glass mass-produced hulls for future contests.

The decision and further discussions about this important step were lively and quite often acrimonious. But when the tumult and the shouting had died, there was one inescapable conclusion—that the future of the X class in Canterbury and Otago is balancing precariously on the edge of extinction. Unless four or five fibre-glass yachts are sailing on Canterbury and Otago waters within the next season or two, the future of the X class in the South Island and the whole meaning of the Sanders Cup will be lost.

There were many arguments in favour of amateur construction, and the most lucid and worthwhile of these came from Peter Mander. Bigger Fleets “If the X class is to survive, there must be more yachts and bigger fleets throughout the country,” he said. “This decision do bar amateurs from building their own yachts) has placed the X class beyond the financial means of many interested yachtsmen at a time when more and more X class are needed. A fibre-glass hull is too expensive for a man who could build his moulded ply yacht for half the cost.” Mander also maintained that a composite class of fibre-glass and moulded ply hulls could be kept one-design by strict policing. These views become even more important when it is realised that Peter Mander is extremely eager that the X class should survive and prosper; and is also just as worried that the class will not. Unless the Sanders Cup authorities relax their ban —an extremely unlikely change of face —the future of the class and the Sanders Cup is based on the unsound grounds of hope. Winner Canterbury’s winning skipper. John Morrison, showed a reasonably high standard of windward sailing and when he gains more confidence and skill with his off-wind sailing he will further increase his reputation. He is champion of the X class, and a worthy one at that. The contest was marked by very good sportsmanship and that peculiar and strong fellowship which permeates any type of yachting event. In this respect at least, the X class is upholding tradition.

The superb scenery and the fine comradeship which made the contest such a pleasant one led to one somewhat unexpected

admission by a North Island yachtsman. When asked where the next contest should be held, he said: “Where? Heck, let’s have them all at Akaroa.”

Johnny Morrison deserved his win, not only for his yachtmanship, but for his perserverance in the face of difficulties not caused by the other contestants. After taking delivery of his boat Morrison had to work on it from time to time before it was ready for competitive sailing. Then followed months of hard training on Lyttelton harbour at every opportunity.

Broken Mast The collapse of Pinta's mast in the second race on Saturday morning put Canterbury out of the race. Morrison borrowed the mast from George Brasell's fibreglass X class boat, Wyn, for the afternoon race, which Pinta won. Morrison and his crew decided, however, that to have no spare mast on hand for any of the boats was not wise, and they all returned to Christchurch on Saturday evening to make a new mast. The manager of a timber firm opened up his yard and allowed them to select a suitable stick. For part of that night and nearly all day Sunday the three men, with a friend helping, worked on the mast. They returned to Akaroa on Sunday evening with the new mast, and with it won the fifth race and the cup.